It's a great river swim with the family…read more However be very careful.. I feel in a whole in Sept 5th,2022 and twisted both ankles. Which I'm still suffering pain from Two month in my injury. My family had lots of fun( I didn't since I was in pain but since it was 2hr drive I suck it up for them). My toddler love it.. we went when LA hit over 100* heat... it very nice in the water!! Many ppl with floating I do suggest to make sure everyone know how to swim as its now drag ppl down the stream..

I could see this being a 3 or 4 star hike depending on the season and weather conditions you do the…read morehike in. I hiked it on 2/24/19 and found the conditions to be ideal for my enjoyment! Location- it was only about a 30 minute drive for me since I spent the night after attending a party at a family member's house in El Cajon (suburb of San Diego); I jumped on the 8 East and as the elevation reached 3,000 ft I could begin seeing snow on the hills near the fwy and I got even more excited for this hike- took Exit 47 for Sunrise Hwy and the trailhead parking was about 2 miles away from the fwy and there was a large lot on the side of the hwy to park Trail- you access the trail by walking across the road and going to the right of the metal barrier...the snow was the deepest on this portion of the hike for about half a mile and the first part of the hike is where the trail is the narrowest with portions where you have to bend over and get low to continue past low branches; at about 3/4 of a mile you will get down to creek level and make a left to get to the waterfalls...I carefully climbed up to reach about 4 parts of the waterfall and it was flowing really well with all of the recent precipitation of this winter and it was a pleasant surprise to find this so close to the city of San Diego; it is about 2 miles RT and not anything too extreme in the way of incline and I loved having the trail/falls all to myself for the nearly 2 hrs I was there *I used microspikes just to be safe but I could see it being fine with just hiking shoes

Nice little hike. $10 for parking. Has a bathrooms. Fire road over some rolling Hills until you…read moremake a left to go visit the "river". Trail ends up at a nice watering hole. Could definitely do some wading during the summer months if there's water. Even though you're not supposed to touch the water. ‍. The fire road continues through the rolling Hills for several miles if you wanted.

Nice easy hike. Beautiful waterfall. Had this waterfall all to ourselves. Took a nice little dip in…read morethe swimming pool. Chilly but refreshing!

I love Mount Laguna!!! I've been hiking and mountain biking out here for years. It's got such a…read morevaried landscape, ranging from huge desert overlooks to green meadows and trees. There is adequate parking along sunrise Highway pretty much anywhere you go. You are supposed to have an adventure pass to park here and they have a kiosk to pay for it but it never works. Fortunately if you have the America, the beautiful pass, you can put that on your dashboard and that will cover it. Today, my man and I went out and did a hike on the PCT portion to Foster point. Absolutely stunning, one of my favorite overlooks in the area. On this portion of the trail, there is very little tree cover and you've got to be careful not to get dehydrated. It was only 74° and it got toasty in the sun. We were out there for three hours, and I had 3 L of water. I drank pretty much all of it and a Gatorade bottle that I brought. If you come out here for biking, be sure to hit Los Gatos Trail. It's so flowy and fun and has a bunch of little features you can play on. Noble Canyon is a legendary trail but if you are going to ride it, make sure you've got strong bike skills because it is quite technical.

Some of my favorite hikes in the winter are here. Previous years when I came here in February there…read morewas snow but no snow when we went today. We could tell that the snow recently melted because parts of the trail was muddy. There are at least 4 trails here. The trails range from easy to moderate depending which one you go on. The views are stunning!

A surprise in our own backyard!!! A recommendation from a dear friend and an opportunity came to…read moretry the Burnt Rancheria Campground in the Cleveland National Park on Mt Laguna. Weather was perfect and the campground was ideal!!! Clean and well maintained helped to make our time this weekend worthwhile to truly appreciate and experience the Creations around us provided for our enjoyment but our Heavenly Father. Use GPS directions or you may pass the entrance. The entrance is right after the Pine Valley Cafe. Cellular reception is good in the mountains. I couldn't sleep the first night from all of the excitement so I sat alone in the middle of the field to gaze at the beautiful expanse of the heavens. Unbeknownst to me, that night a geomagnetic storm was creating amazing aurora borealis around the earth. Although my eye could not detect any hues or colors in the sky, my camera did and took some amazing photos!!! The next night I tried to take the same pictures and there were no hues, so I deduced that the night before must have been the Northern lights that the camera detected and recorded. At 6000' elevation I guess you can see incredible views of the sky!!! If you are 62 years old or older, apply for the "America The Beautiful" Senior Pass to receive a 50% discount on the Camping Fees. The Campground Hosts were very friendly if you show some respect and love to them. Shouldn't we all?

The campground was clean and well maintained. Bathroom was clean. Camp hosts were nice. Will return.read more

Great camping spot Dog friendly…read more Clean toilet Fun activities hiking and bicycling I love the experience with my family, it is a beautiful place to camp, very relaxing and quiet. Be aware for some rattle snakes.

This is a peaceful campground only an hour from San Diego. The small town of Pine Valley is nearby…read moreand is a good stop for the basics. Cibbetts Flat is first-come first-serve and I got here early enough to be choosy and find a good spot before my friends arrived. The requisite bench, fire pit, water access, and primitive restrooms are all in good condition.

An outstanding "under the radar" waterfall hike is right here in Descanso. The Merigan Trail (aka…read morethe Merigan Fire Road) is closer than you think at just five minutes off the 8 freeway. Once at the trailhead, you will start your hike through an open meadow, passing some shady oak groves then finishing with waterfalls crashing on large boulders. I was introduced to this gem when I was at sixth grade camp, at Camp Oliver. I knew the Merigan Trail was great even then, but now I can truly appreciate how this area was left untouched after all these years. If it is your first time here, you will be back. FYI..there was still snow on the ground when we went in early January. There is no official address, but the place is right off Viejas Boulevard at Mitzpah Lane. Since it is part of the Cuyamaca State Park, they have their own signs, dirt parking lot, port-a-potties and the "honor system" check in station. I guess they ask for an 8 dollar fee to park. From the parking lot, walk to the trail head going left that passes right in front of a ranger's cabin. You can't miss the trail, since it is wide enough to drive a truck through. Stay on the trail and you will pass through a meadow, then an oak grove, this will then turn into a few mild inclines on the trail that will eventually lead you to a fork in the trail. At the fork, you will see a sign with the option to go to the "Dead Horse Trail" or stay on the "Merigan Fire Road." I always take the Dead Horse Trail, and go left at the fork in the trail to get to the waterfalls. The hike to the waterfall takes about 30-40 minutes for the average hiker with a few stops to admire the scenery. On a scale of 1-10 for difficulty, I would rate it at a 3. There are some inclines, but nothing too bad. Remember, my entire 6th grade class made the hike. Although I love Mission Trails and Cowles Mountain as much as the next hiker...those spots are flooded with way too many bodies. Just when you think you hear a coyote or deer up ahead, it always ends up being another hiker. Kind of a buzz kill. The Merigan Trail has always been the opposite of that experience for me.

We did this hike based on the review above. There's something about the adventure of trying to…read morefind a waterfall based on one yelp review that sounded fun. It's pretty much just as the above review describes. Drive east on I-8 two exits past the Viejas outlets to Japatul rd and make a left. Make a left at hwy 79 and then an immediate left on Viejas Blvd. Look for Mitzpah rd and park in the dirt lot. Parking is $8. The hike to the waterfall is about 30 minutes. Take the fireroad and make a left at the fork down towards Dead Horse Trail. You will start to hear water. The falls aren't big and majestic, but it's quiet and uncrowded. We had 4 kids with us ranging from age 6 - 9 and they all had a good time.

San Diego's most underrated drive is best experienced during fall when the gold and amber oak trees…read moreare brilliant with the season's color. Because of this byway's location most people tend to stay around Julian and Cuyamaca to hike. There are some trails off of this road which are a lot less crowded but just as fun. - Big Kahuna Trail (yelp erroneously has this trail under Rancho Bernardo CA) - Monument peak off the PCT (puts you under all the cool transmission towers) WINTER SNOW is also a popular time to come here as it's less crowded than Palomar Mountain, Julian and Cuyamaca snow spots. But less crowded is still very crowded. Tips: Always plan to bring snow chains. Sometimes the road is shut down to "chains only" as a way to curb insane crowds. Perhaps the biggest tip is to get to the snow early. Before 9am is best. People who show up later on a whim cause the most problems. The later it is the more accidents you'll see. I've witnessed this stupidity myself while driving back down the mountain. The sooner you arive the safer you and your family will be. Don't expect any parking after 11AM.... When you do find a spot hopefully you're facing the road back to your house. Trying to do a theee point turn is difficult on this narrow road and I watched some idiot back into a parked car trying to do it. Top- If you don't bring gloves you'll be turning around and going home within 30 minutes.

My favorite place in SD county to experience those lush pine forest vibes and snow during the…read morewinter time. If you're able to come here on a weekday, I recommend it, as you'll pretty much have the entire place to yourself. I choose this place over Palomar Mountain hands down, there's actually a place to eat here and the views are nicer IMO. If you get a chance, check out the Desert View Picnic site, you'll be able to see some breathtaking views of Anza Borrego State Park and contrast both the mountain/desert landscapes.

A great (Loop) hike that is best experienced during fall…read more.. There are many ways to hike this trail, but mine is a 5 mile loop hike. Follow my suggestions and get a great family-friendly hike with great views, fresh air, and you'll get up close to microwave towers, a USAF Doppler radar ball, and cellular towers. Soo cool. Okay, you've put this hike on your list based on the pictures but there are a few thing you need to know. I started at the Desert View picnic area. This is a great parking area but you MUST have an adventure pass to park here. You'll have to buy a day, or annual park pass at any sports/adventure store. OR, I found a free parking alternative. Okay here we go. I'll talk about the free parking..If you're at the picnic area just hop on the PCT and head north.. The access to the free parking area it's the next North turnoff past the Desert View picnic area. Drive up the road to the lot and park in the dirt lot.. Check out the view!! For your reference look up the road and you'll see a big black gate.. this is where your loop hike will END... Don't worry, you will not be trespassing on this hike. That gate only blocks cars, not hikers. My loop starts at the Pacific Crest Trail, so if you parked at the free area walk down the road and look for the trailhead on the RIGHT side of the road.. TIP - Because this area doesn't have reliable cell service you will need to use GPS via Google Maps (or a hiking app) to find the actual "unmarked Monument trail". TIP if you can't use google maps, you'll have to look for the PCT marker that's at the base of a small hill.. just look for a tight opening through manzinita trees on the right just before that sign. The monument trail is tight, but you can do it. Hike to the top and hike around the various government installations..take pictures..have fun. To complete the loop, continue to walk down the service road past more towers and dome heading south.. it will take you all the way back to the viewpoint parking lot.. TIPS - Put the location of the Desert View picnic area in your google maps app for reference BEFORE you enter this area (no internet coverage up here). Remember if you park at the picnic area you need an adventure pass. No pass required if you park at the viewpoint lot. This loop didn't have a single no trespassing sign. So do walk the service road on the loop back.

The views at the top are spectacular. Tall Pines to the west, dry desert to the east. This peak…read morelies on what is known as a ecotone. A boundary between two distinctly different habitats. I used the directions provided here and they got me to a parking area off the shoulder on Sunrise Highway, about mile marker 25. The trailhead has between a barbed wire fence and the trail unmarked. You walk in a northerly direction for about half mile or so through a trail that looks vague in places do to lack of use, apparently. I got this info from a great hiking book called Afoot and Afield San Diego County by Jerry Schad. You'll walk until you get to another trail that intersects, and it's not marked. Follow it right on you'll be on the Big Laguna trail. Walk about 100 yards until you get to another trail intersection. It's the Pacific Crest trail and you'll follow it left. At the summit is a few radio and microwave antennas. Of interest was a laser target, standing about 6ft tall. I snapped a photo and uploaded it. When at the summit you'll appreciate the beautiful contrast of habitat as you pan around 360 degrees. It was especially windy this day, but very clear providing great views. Mount Stephenson and the large round white antennae towers can also be visited very near by. The views of the desert are amazing. This is an easy hike of about 4 miles out and back. Elevation gain 500 feet

This picnic area is situated off the Sunrise Highway in Mount Laguna. It's also a nice place to…read morepark if you want to hike part of the Pacific Crest Trail. An Adventure Pass is required to park here, and you'll have buy a day pass or an annual pass at a store that sells them. They might sell them in the Pine Valley shopping center a few miles south or at any major outdoors shop. The parking area has many spaces and several picnic tables scattered around the area. There is also a small trail here too and of course the Pacific Crest Trail. There is a bathroom here. Best time to explore this area is fall with all of the golden leaves from all of the Oak trees. Trails - Read my review of the Monument Peak trail. A must hike if stopping in this area. https://www.yelp.com/biz/monument-peak-hike-mount-laguna Tip - If you don't have a pass you can park at the viewpoint lot ( next road north of the picnic site) and up the road.

Backpacked to Granite Springs on parts of Harvey Moore loop. Nice trail with wildlife sightings and…read moregood primitive group camping.

Here is a real nature experience…read more Coming from San Diego, most of my hike outings have been relatively close to residential and other 'hikers' are plentiful. It's nice and all, but at times feels a bit fake. But Descanso, our neighbor to the not so distant east, finally quenched my Real Nature Thirst. It's definitely a different environment: rolling open fields, erie sleep hollow trees (even one fun to climb and get all sooty! [from its burnt state], ridges with flowing water below, creeks, forest-y parts...it really has it all! oh, including ticks that carry lyme disease, too - FYI. Some fellow hikers gave us the heads up to continuously check your socks and skin. There are some good climbs but mainly it's a distance factor that gives you your work out (roughly 14 miles). For the most part we were left to ourselves and nature, only occasionally running into horseback riders, and a a few hikers - could have been partly due to being Easter Sunday, but something tells me it allows for less foot traffic in general compared to other hiking areas. The funniest aspect of the visit was getting overly excited at spotting wild turkeys. That's how wilderness-starved I have become! This is definitely a great area to explore as a 1/2 day trip. If possible, acquire a map of the grounds before heading out. The trail markers can get confusing and it's easy to question if you are heading the right direction. Even GPS won't save you out here because reception can be lacking. We were lucky to run into 2 rangers on horses to verify getting back to our starting point. Added bonus to coming here: head to the store off the main road for some Dudley's Julian apple pie...ab-so-lut-ely delicious and satisfying end to all the calorie burning you just did! mmm.... Dudleys.